Is it bunny with Big Bum or is it just time to Spay??

[Sox]

Sox (Dwaft X) is now about 12 weeks. Right from Day 2 she has never had a problem with peeing in the litter tray, a small Hi-Back Corner Tray. She is getting bigger so I bought a rectangle cat littler tray for her. She has been using this for weeks. Her Hi-Back tray now goes in the play pen when she is out there.

Suddenly her peeing habits have changed. She has had this rectangle litter tray for week! Sox always like to pee in the 2 corners of the tray. Her tray is put flush to the hutch walls. I noticed she has started to pee in her usual two corners including the walls of the hutch. Initially I thought it could be her getting bigger, just her big bum touching the walls. So I moved the litter tray a distance from the walls leaving a gap between the hutch wall and the tray. However I still get urine on the walls on both corners. Is she aiming at such a great distance or is she specially peeing on the wall just to annoy me I wonder? She peed so much that her white pee has dribbled outside of the hutch onto the floor and I can smell it! Sox has never ever made my house stink.

So what is the problem I don't understand. Is she doing it intentionally as it's time for spaying? So is this how they are suppose to act when there's talk about spaying? I have no idea. Or is it something simple, just a matter of buying a new High-Back tray. Is there such a thing as a rectangular High-Back Tray? Is there any way I can convert a normal tray to a High-Back tray?

What should I do? What is a normal behaviour of an unspayed rabbit?

 

[aurora369]

You can try using a rubbermaid container as a litter box. That is what I use for mine. The sides are nice and high so my bunny's pee stays in the box.

One possibility, is you bunny spraying the walls? Is it possible that your bunny is a male?

12 weeks is a tad early for spaying. However, I would start looking for a rabbit-savvy vet to perform the operation now. Some vets are comfortable doing the operation earlier than others. I would try to wait until about 5 months.

--Dawn

 

[Sox]

I will have to so a search to see what this Rubbermaid container is as I'm not from Canada - thanks. Sox I've been told by the Vet's assistant that she is a female. It did kinda cross my mind that the assistant may be wrong. This vet specialises in rabbits. I was told I can spay at 16 weeks and I am counting down the days. I think if she is a male, the bunny has to be even older.

Ta, Carol

 

[aurora369]

If the bunny is a male, normally the vets will do the neuter earlier. Neuters are much easier than spays, as they are less invasive.

If your bunny will tolerate you picking her up, you can see if you can see some testicles. Sexing a bunny is very difficult, and even very experienced breeders, rescues and vets make mistakes.

Rubbermaid is just a brand name for a common plastic storage bin found in North America. You can use any sort of plastic bin for a litter box. Ferret litter boxes sometimes can work too, they normally have a nice high back. I normally shop for litter boxes by going to the storage section of a store, and finding a nicely sized plastic storage bin.

--Dawn